Regret It, Ex? Too Late

The clock on the wall slowly ticked towards midnight while the rain outside grew heavier. A young woman in a black lace dress sat on the sofa, her face delicate and striking, like a rose blooming in the darkness. Mia once was the Alden family's most cherished rose before she got married. "Miss, the food's gone cold..." Lena glanced at the delicious dishes laid out on the table and then back at Mia's distant, dejected expression, feeling a twinge of sadness. She had watched Mia grow up, and no one in the Alden family would have dared treat her like this. Lena sighed deeply, having witnessed this proud rose wither over the past two years, neglected and lifeless. "Lena, why don't you get some rest?" Mia said, looking up with a bitter smile, but her thoughts were clearly elsewhere. Lena gave her a long, sympathetic look, taking in the sight of this once-vibrant young woman now hollowed out by marriage. Knowing Mia needed a semblance of dignity, she left without another word, retreating to her room. Now, the only sound in the grand hall was the soft patter of rain. Mia stared at the cold, elegant dishes and the beautifully decorated cake meant to mark their second anniversary. A bitter laugh escaped her lips. But as she laughed, she looked down, concealing the tears that began to spill down her cheeks. 'Would he... even come back? No. I am done with this endless waiting! Done with this man who was impossible to understand, even though I once loved him with all my heart. I’ve had enough now.' Mia grabbed her phone from the table, her hand trembling slightly as she scrolled to the contact labeled “honey.” After hesitating for what felt like forever, she finally pressed the call button. The phone rang for a long time, so long that Mia was about to hang up when someone finally picked up. "Hello, who is this?" A woman's voice drifted through the phone, syrupy sweet, like honeyed macadamia. Even over the phone, Mia could picture the seductive curve of this woman's smile. A chill ran down Mia's spine, rendering her speechless for a moment. This was the first time she encountered this situation. She had heard the gossip, the tabloids hinting at Cameron's affairs with glamorous women, but she had dismissed them as rumors spread by his rivals. But this time, she heard a woman's voice with her own ears, coming from a call with her husband. Cameron had skipped their second wedding anniversary, betraying her for another woman. Mia's heart clenched painfully, each breath coming shorter than the last. 'This is the man I have loved so deeply.' "I'm looking for Cameron," Mia finally said, her voice barely more than a whisper. She clutched her hands tightly as if the pain could help her keep control over her emotions. "He's exhausted and fell asleep. If you have a message, I can pass it on when he wakes up." The woman's voice carried a hint of mockery. "Listen, let him know that if he isn't home within an hour, all business between the Alden family and the Castillo family ends, effective immediately!" Mia tried to keep her voice firm, though her fingers had gone numb from gripping the phone too tightly. 'How ironic that now, between us, this was the only way I could get him to come back.' Just as she was about to end the call, she heard an icy voice. "Mia, didn't your family teach you that every word has a price?" Cameron's voice was sharp, slicing into Mia's heart, each word sharp as a blade. "Well, Cameron, why don't you test me?" Mia's composure shattered at that moment, her calm replaced by fierce determination. She was done showing any weakness in front of him. She had endured enough these past two years! All her trust was repaid with lies! "Heh." He chuckled coldly and then hung up without another word. Lightning split through the rain, and Mia stared in disbelief at the now-dark screen. Tears streamed down her face as she could no longer hold back. Exhausted from crying, she didn't bother to fix her disheveled hair or smeared makeup, collapsing onto the sofa and drifting into a restless sleep. She dreamed of a charity gala when she was nineteen. Crystal chandeliers glittered, and the extravagant jewelry filled the room with a brilliant glow. Mia saw herself surrounded by a group of admirers of the Alden family, her irritation barely hidden behind a polite smile. She had even dismantled part of the champagne tower, creating a small distraction just to escape. She walked down a long corridor, seeking refuge behind gauzy curtains on a secluded balcony. Just as she thought she could finally breathe, she pulled back the curtain, only to meet a pair of green eyes that stole her breath away.